Coleg Sir Gâr had double cause for celebration this week – when its record of producing WorldSkills stars was applauded and its exemplary teaching practises were rewarded.
Lesley Griffiths, Deputy Minister for Science, Innovation and Skills, visited the college to mark the success of two students selected for the WorldSkills UK Squad and to present the college with the Beacon Award sponsored by the Welsh Assembly Government.
Rhydian Williams, a joiner from Haverfordwest, and David Bowen, a web designer from Llandysul, are currently the only two representatives from Welsh colleges selected for the Squad this year and competed against hundreds of students around the UK to win a place.
They are both undergoing a rigorous training programme to help them secure a place on the UK team that will be announced in June. WorldSkills London 2011 is the largest, international skills competition where young people from across the globe compete to be the best in their chosen vocational skill.
The Deputy Minister praised the college for its proactive and positive approach towards WorldSkills and said the college is producing WorldSkills stars year on year.
“I am delighted to celebrate the ongoing success that Coleg Sir Gâr has achieved as both a host of WorldSkills competitions and in competing at UK and international levels.
“We are working hard to ensure that through our Skills that Work for Wales strategy we can support as many individuals as possible to continue in education, develop their skills and enter quality employment.
“The young people here today are a testament to this. Through their commitment, hard work and dedication, they are truly inspirational and proof that young people in Wales really can achieve excellence in skills.”
Rhydian and David follow in the footsteps of former students Cliff Williams and Gareth Evans who were selected for the UK Squad for the WorldSkills Calgary event in 2009. They were present at the celebration and spoke about their experience.
Gareth Evans is now a lecturer at the college, the Carpentry Competitions Coordinator and runs his own business G W Evans Carpentry Services. Cliff also runs his own business, Cliff Williams Carpentry.
Lesley Griffiths also paid tribute to principal Barry Liles, Skills Champion for Wales, who promotes skills competitions extensively within the college and works with other colleges and the wider network within Wales to raise the profile of skills competitions.
The Association of Colleges Beacon Awards highlight the breadth and quality of education in colleges throughout the UK. The Awards recognise imaginative and exemplary teaching and learning practices in colleges and promote excellence in learning.
The Welsh Assembly Government sponsored an award for 14-19 Collaboration that was won by Coleg Sir Gâr.
The award recognised the work undertaken by the college to support the statutory requirement in Wales that all learners at Key Stage 4 and post-16 will, by 2012, be able to choose from a local curriculum containing a minimum of 30 course choices, with at least five vocational options.
Lesley Griffiths said wider choice is only possible through effective co-operation between learning providers. It requires schools and colleges to work together to offer learners access to a wider range of courses and to reduce duplication.
“The Award attracted entries from across the further education sector in Wales and Coleg Sir Gâr and its partners should be very proud of their achievement and it was an exemplar example of co-operation worthy of dissemination to the other 14-19 networks and their partners.”
